Process Engineering Manager

W3Global; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

W3Global is seeking a Process Engineering Manager to lead a cross-functional team across Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Project Management, Manufacturing, and Sales in delivering engineered‑to‑order projects.

You will own process engineering deliverables, drive design, validation, and optimization, and partner with PMs to keep scope, schedule, and budget on track across North America. Travel up to 15% is expected.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).
• 10+ years in engineering roles within food & beverage or related industries.
• 5+ years in a leadership or management position.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the process engineering team, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
• Own and approve process engineering deliverables, including process flow diagrams, equipment sizing, and sanitation concepts.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle from concept development through commissioning and customer acceptance.
• Partner with Project Managers and Engineering Leads to review progress, resolve issues, and maintain alignment with project goals.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and process-related risks that could impact quality, schedule, or cost.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on labor efficiency, cost reduction, and design standardization.

Skills

Process engineering

Fluid mechanics

Sanitary design

PLC control systems

Leadership

Education

BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field)

Tools

CAD software

Project management tools

Job description

The Process Engineering Manager is a technical leader who collaborates closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Project Management, Manufacturing, and Sales teams to deliver successful engineered‑to‑order projects.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the process engineering team, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
• Set priorities, allocate resources, and establish clear expectations to ensure projects meet scope, schedule, and budget commitments.
• Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support workload planning and resource forecasting to align with project demand.

Process Engineering Oversight & Execution

• Own and approve process engineering deliverables, including process flow diagrams, equipment sizing, utility requirements, and sanitation concepts.
• Validate process designs for performance, cleanability, safety, and manufacturability within engineered‑to‑order systems.
• Ensure process intent is fully integrated with mechanical layouts, automation architectures, and control strategies.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle from concept development through commissioning and customer acceptance.
• Partner with Project Managers and Engineering Leads to review progress, resolve issues, and maintain alignment with project goals.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and process‑related risks that could impact quality, schedule, or cost.

Process Optimization & Innovation

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on labor efficiency, cost reduction, and design standardization.
• Improve process robustness and repeatability while balancing customization requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for process deviations or performance issues.
• Champion risk assessments, process capability studies, and post‑project reviews to capture lessons learned and improve future designs.

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all process designs meet company, customer, and industry best practices.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation, including SOPs, sanitation procedures, technical manuals, and training materials.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and applicable food safety and sanitary design standards.
• Support adherence to relevant mechanical, electrical, and safety standards (e.g., ASME, UL, NFPA) as they relate to process systems.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Manufacturing, Quality, Service, and Operations teams.
• Provide process engineering leadership during customer reviews, FATs, SATs, and commissioning activities.
• Support Sales and Applications teams during quoting and concept development with process expertise.
• Collaborate with Procurement and Operations to ensure successful project execution and delivery timelines.

Education:

BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field)

Experience

• 10+ years in engineering roles within food & beverage or related industries.
• 5+ years in a leadership or management position.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of process engineering, fluid mechanics, and sanitary design principles
• Experience sizing and specifying food and beverage process equipment
• Understanding of PLC‑based automation and control systems
• Proficiency with CAD software and project management tools
• Knowledge of food safety, regulatory, and sanitary standards

Soft Skills

• Excellent Leadership abilities including ability to lead cross functional engineering teams.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Strong problem‑solving abilities in fast‑paced, project‑driven environments

Other

• Ability to travel up to 15% (Primarily North America with some International)